Skip to main content

Nordic road conditions vary

Nordic road conditions vary between Sweden and Norway.
By MJ Woof February 8, 2021 Read time: 1 min
Nordic road conditions vary according to reports – image courtesy of © Iqoncept; Dreamstime.com
The quality of road conditions varies greatly between Nordic neighbours Norway and Sweden. Norwegian roads appear generally in good shape according to a recent survey, while Sweden needs to address road condition in rural areas, as shown be recent research.

A report carried out by Vista Analyse for the road traffic association Opplysningsrådet for Veitrafikken (OFV) has shown that the quality of Norwegian roads improved during 2014-2019. The Norwegian Road Administration (Statens Vegvesen) increased its road maintenance budget during this time, while individual states also boosted spending on road repairs and maintenance. On average some €19,354km/year is spent on maintaining county roads and €48,385/year on national and European highways in Norway.

But a survey by the Swedish trade association Transportföretagen shows that more than 10% of Sweden’s state roads are in poor condition, with a key issue being those links in rural areas. The report is based on data collated by the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) of the country’s 98,500km state road network. According to the report an additional €533 million/year will have to be spent until 2030 to address the issue. Insufficient maintenance of rural roads has been identified as being a particular problem.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Uruguay’s transport investment is seeing major gains
    August 1, 2017
    Uruguay’s road development programme will help deliver economic growth for the future - Gordon Feller reports. Uruguay is embarking on a new nationwide programme to rehabilitate 890km of roads, and the government intends to improve an additional 260km of dangerous highways and roads. This three-year programme aims to reduce traffic accidents, in part thanks to a US$70 million loan recently authorised by the World Bank’s board of directors. The new operation uses a special financing instrument known as “Prog
  • A third of Mecklenburg Vorpommern state roads in poor condition
    May 19, 2016
    Only 44% of roads in the northeastern German state of Mecklenburg Vorpommern are in good or very good condition, according to a transport infrastructure report presented to the German parliament. Also, a third are in poor or very poor condition. The state - the least densely populated in all Germany - performed well compared to other states, according to German media reports. But there are more than 600km where the damage is so bad that it must be repaired as soon as possible or at least be closely m
  • New study into the impact of weather on Europe’s transport
    November 5, 2012
    A new study into the impact of extreme weather conditions on Europe’s transport network has been carried out by Finland’s VTT Technical Research Centre. This broad-based study covered all 27 EU states and highlighted that some countries face significantly higher risks of transport disruption than others. This is the first study worldwide to evaluate risks to transport from weather phenomena on a country-specific and mode-specific basis. The study revealed that Poland faces particular problems, while other h
  • Road transport key to Africa's trade links
    February 17, 2012
    Road transport is the key to improving Africa's links within its own territory, and further afield as Patrick Smith reports. Development of road transportation is the key to the future of the African economy, and countries on the continent are making great strides. According to a report by a transport infrastructure expert at the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), within the next 15 years the value of trade in Africa could reach US$250 billion if a $32 billion investment is made to integrate